The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has convicted former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, on a 12-count charge bordering on fraud and money laundering filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice James Omotosho, who delivered the judgment yesterday, held that the anti-graft agency successfully established the former minister’s culpability beyond reasonable doubt. Mamman served as Minister of Power under former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The court found Mamman guilty of illegally diverting public funds amounting to about ₦33.8bn. Justice Omotosho also held that the former minister made a cash payment of $655,700, equivalent to about ₦200m, for a property in Abuja without using any financial institution. He was further convicted for criminal breach of trust linked to funds released by the Federal Government for the Mambilla and Zungeru Hydro-electric Power projects.
According to the court, much of the money was allegedly routed through Bureau de Change operators, who converted the funds into foreign currencies and handed them to the defendant.
Justice Omotosho said the prosecution presented overwhelming evidence against the former minister. “The evidence of the prosecution is overwhelming as against the scanty and almost absent defence of the defendant. The defendant did not offer any credible evidence to rebut the prosecution’s case”, the judge said.
The judge criticised Mamman’s handling of the power sector, saying he failed to leave any meaningful legacy while in office. “Rather than creating a legacy to tackle the epileptic power supply in the country, the defendant was living large at the expense of ordinary citizens. Little wonder that Nigerians have remained in darkness till today”, Justice Omotosho held.
Mamman was absent from court when the judgment was delivered.
